A few questions before I begin breeding

Realm · Dec 26, 2008

Hi
I'm planning to breed my axolotls soon. I'm all set up, I just have two questions. Firstly, I have a few tanks set up so I can simulate changing day/night patterns, and I believe axolotls naturally breed near the end of winter. Therefore, I assume I should decrease light over a period of time and then increase it, but over how longer time and by how much?
Secondly, all I know of my axolotl's colour genetics is that they are all d/d. Is it possible to tell the colour phenotype of my axolotl's offspring without hatching them (so I can still humanely euthanize them) to determine the genetics of the parents?
Thanks.

blueberlin · Dec 29, 2008

Hi Realm,

I think you will find that axolotls breed quite readily and easily, so that you don't need to go to too much trouble. Most people rather have the problem of preventing breeding.

The basic color type will be obvious when the embryos have developed to the point that they are recognizeable as larvae - you can see if they are dark or light colored. Some pigments don't develop until after the larvae have hatched, though (even months afterwards), so that the final phenotype is only apparent in an adult axolotl (i.e., the dark freckles on a leucistic axolotl).

-Eva

Realm · Dec 29, 2008

Thanks for the reply! I really just want to experiment with the lighting, as one day I'd like to keep some more difficult species and perhaps use the lighting to my advantage for breeding.
I'm glad I don't have to raise many larvae to determine the genetics of my axolotls, I only have the resources to properly raise about 40-50 at the moment.

blueberlin · Dec 29, 2008

"Only" 40-50!? haha I'm lousy at math but let me see if I can figure this... say 50 cm per axolotl... say 40 axolotls, that's 2000 cm or 20 meters of aquarium length... 50 cm deep and 50 cm tall... that's.... um... scratch scratch... um... a lot of water!

Seriously, though - have fun breeding the little lotls. I don't know whether the lighting would make a difference to their breeding habits. Do keep us posted, then, won't you?

-Eva

Realm · Dec 29, 2008

Oops! I mean to raise 40-50 larvae. I could only raise about another 5-10 to adulthood, I have plenty of space ready to be used (I also keep other herps, and am quite proficient at building tanks).
If anyone wants to know I've kept the male in his own tank and am making there light period 20 minutes longer each day (sunrise 10 minutes earlier and sunset 10 minutes later each day) to a maximum of 14 hours. This seems rather fast so if it doesn't work I will decrease the rate of change considerably. From what I've read about the IU axolotl colony they decrease and then increase the light period over about 4 weeks.
I'm also decreasing the axolotls average water temperature by about 4 or 5 degrees.
Hopefully I will have some larvae soon!

blueberlin · Dec 29, 2008

You seem to know what you're about so maybe this info is superfluous but I would like to point out that you most likely will not get larvae if the male is in a tank on his own...

Ok just kidding. Have you tried just putting a pair together to see if they breed? My two adults have been breeding constantly - every 2-3 weeks - since April. I have separated them now, otherwise, I am sure they would still be at it.

I'm really interested in what you are doing. Hopefully someone of a more scientific bent than I will chime in at some point with input on the lighting variations. What I don't understand is increasing the hours of "daylight" while decreasing the water temperature - that seems contradictory to me?

-Eva

Realm · Dec 29, 2008

Haha, suppose not!
I believe the lighting mimics the end of winter and beginning of spring and summer, and the temperature just seems to help from what I've read.
The axolotls were in the same tank for most of there life (about 4 years apparently) with several others but none of them ever bred, who knows why...

Bellabelloo · Dec 29, 2008

The first time my axolotl reproduced was when I went on holiday. It was during a hotter summer than usual so their water temperatures where a little higher . When we left I shut all the curtains, to keep the sun and heat out ...we returned to something that resembled a snow scene . Maybe the reduction of heat and light stimulated something

Realm · Dec 29, 2008

Maybe, thanks for sharing. There must be literature about inducing spawning somewhere, the scientific colonies have perfected the art of breeding axolotls. Hopefully someone can point me in the right direction.

blueberlin · Dec 30, 2008

Have you found the breeding page on axolotl.org? http://www.axolotl.org/breeding.htm

-Eva

Realm · Dec 30, 2008

I have, it's not extremely comprehensive, but I suppose that's not its purpose, its still an excellent resource none the less. I think I've found almost everything available for free on the internet.

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